This regulation Civil War canteen is complete with cover, stopper and shoulder strap. This uses a short chain to retain the stopper, a trademark of canteens passing through the New York Depot, supplied by different makers answering advertisements for contracts, inspected, then sent back for covering addition of the strap, then shipped out by the depot.

This is the “smooth-sided” version sent by the New York suppliers, versus the “bullseye” corrugated canteens taken in by the Philadelphia Depot after a certain point. (These were actually thought better by the government with complaints that process of stamping the corrugated canteens actually weakened the metal.) The cork stopper has its tin cap and flat metal nut on the bottom end of the pull ring. The chain loops around the finger loop of the stopper on one end and is secured on the other in a small hole on one of the upper strap brackets. The strap is full length, solid, with dirt and stains, but no breaks or fraying to the edges. This is typical twilled cotton, folded twice and sewn along each edge. The cover is the typical style used in late 1863/early 1864 to the end of the war, “a particular shoddy brand of woolen cloth. Always plain woven and colored gray. . .” in the words of O’Donnell, p.145, US Military Canteens. For a similar canteen see his “Canteen 186” on page 162, which has a similar cover and strap, stopper with white metal screw nut and no washer. Like that canteen, this one is unmarked – New York did not get around to implementing the 1862 requirement for contactors to mark their material until August 1864. O’Donnell posits his was most likely supplied by Jewett or Anderson in early-to-mid 1864. That most likely applies to this one as well.

This shows some signs of issue and use, with couple of shallow dents to the body and some wear spots to the cover, but preserves a decidedly gray color, where many have oxidized to brown. One side has a small shallow dent with a dirt spot over it and shows a half dozen small wear spots, showing the weave, at right center, but only two narrow holes showing the tin- one about ½” long and the other 1-inch. The other side shows dirt at the upper left, and no holes, but a broader dent at center and wider wear spots at lower right, showing some of the weave. Please see our photos.

This would make an excellent addition to a display of soldiers’ field gear, along with a haversack and mess gear, or display exhibiting the many variations even of the regulation canteen.  [sr][ph:L]

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